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Paris Saint-Germain are set to sign Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech on loan from Chelsea, but the move is stalling following confusion over an expiration date
Hakim Ziyech's move to Paris Saint-Germain is uncertain
Hakim Ziyech's loan deal to Paris Saint-Germain appears to have collapsed after Chelsea messed up the necessary paperwork.
Ziyech, 29, is expected to complete his move to PSG on the final day. Chelsea were delighted with the Moroccan international's departure from Stamford Bridge and he traveled to Paris on Tuesday to finalize the deal, but news of the transfer vanished as the day wore on.
Then, when the deadline passed, it turned out that Chelsea had provided the wrong documents and the transfer was not completed on time. Reports in France even suggested that the Blues submitted the wrong documents three times before the deadline ended. For now, PSG are expected to make a call to try to finalize the transfer after the deadline. Chelsea, who have completed the deal for Enzo Fernandez, have yet to comment on the matter. This story could rumble for days to come.
A PSG source described the situation as a 'class A circus' for The Athletic. Ziyech is expected to complete his move from Chelsea in January after starting just four Premier League games this season. He has not scored a goal for the club since last March.
However, several clubs have pursued the signing of Ziyech after he helped Morocco reach the semi-finals of the recent World Cup. He featured in all seven of his country's matches at the tournament in Qatar, as Morocco became the first African nation to reach the final four.
Hakim Ziyech impresses at World Cup in Qatar
AC Milan, Roma, RB Leipzig and several Premier League sides - including Newcastle - all want Ziyech's signature, but PSG is his preferred option. Although the transfer seems to be a formality, there is now a strong possibility that the player will stay at Chelsea. Ziyech joined Chelsea in the summer of 2020 after impressing with Dutch sides Heerenveen, Twente and Ajax. Under Erik ten Hag, the winger won the Eredivisie title, the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield during his time at the second club.
Ziyech was also part of the Ajax team that reached the Europa League final in May 2017 - losing 2-0 to Manchester United - and he helped the Dutch side win the League semi-final two years later. . They lost at the last minute to Tottenham.
Ziyech won the Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup during his two and a half years at Chelsea. He has also reached two FA Cup finals and a Carabao Cup final, but suffered heavy defeats against Leicester and Liverpool (twice).
If Ziyech's move to PSG cannot be saved, he will have to try to help Chelsea save their season. The Blues are 10th in the Premier League table - 10 points behind Man Utd in fourth - and have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
Chelsea are still in the Champions League and will face Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16.
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